A Paraphrase on the New Testament, 1 Corinthians · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
1. FOllow after charity, and deſire ſpiritual gifts, but rather that ye may propheſie.
1. The ſum of my Advice is, That above all you value and purſue Charity, (or holy Love:) But deſire alſo Spiritual Gifts, in ſubordination to it, and for the profitable exerciſe of it; and therefore prefer Prophecy, (which is ſpeaking by immediate Inſpiration; to the Inſtruction and Edification of others) as moſt profitable.
2. For he that ſpeaketh in an unknown tongue, ſpeaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man underſtandeth him; howbeit in the ſpirit he ſpeaketh myſteries.
2. For he that ſpeaketh in an unknown Language, ſpeaketh not to the Underſtanding of Man, though God underſtand him: For though he ſpeak never ſo high and excellent Myſteries, no Man that knoweth not that Language underſtandeth him.
3. But he that propheſieth, ſpeaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
3. But he that intelligibly applieth Gods Word to the Hearers, ſpeaketh ſo as conduceth to their Edification, and Exhortation, and Comfort, which are the Ends of your Aſſemblies.
4. He that ſpeaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himſelf: but he that propheſieth edifieth the church.
4. It is ſuppoſed, that he that ſpeaketh in a Language unknown to the People, underſtandeth it himſelf, and ſo may be edified himſelf: (For the Spirit of God did not move Men to ſpeak like Parrots, they knew not what.) But he that by Gods Spirit inſtructeth and exhorteth others, edifieth the Church; for which End you meet.
5. I would that ye all ſpake with tongues, but rather that ye propheſied; for greater is he that propheſieth, then he that ſpeaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
5. I would you had all ſuch knowledge of Languages as is uſeful to propagate the Goſpel: But I more wiſh, as Moſes, that all the Lords People were Prophets, that is, inſpired to ſpeak wiſely and zealouſly the Will of God to Men. For he is the Greateſt in the Church, who is moſt Edifying; and that is he that propheſieth, more than he that ſpeaketh ſtrange Language, unleſs he interpret it to the Churches Edification.
6. Now brethren, if I come unto you ſpeaking with tougues, what ſhall I profit you, except I ſhall ſpeak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by propheſying, or by doctrine?
6. What the better will you be for ſpeaking Languages to you, except I either reveal to you ſomething immediately from God, or open to you ſome Truths which you knew not before, or f…om God urge you to ſome needful Duty, or Doctrinally expound to you the Matters of Faith and Obedience recorded in the Goſpel.
7. And even things without life giving ſound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a diſtinction in the ſounds, how ſhall it be known what is piped or harped?
7. Even the ſound of lifeleſs things, as Muſical Inſtruments, being uſed for ſome ſignification, are uſeleſs, if by diſtinction their ſignification be not perceptible.
8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain ſound, who ſhall prepare himſelf to the battel?
8. You may learn this of Soldiers, how vain the unintelligible Sound of the Trumpet is.
9. So likewiſe you, except ye utter by the tongue words eaſie to be underſtood, how ſhall it be known what is ſpoken? for ye ſhall ſpeak into the air.
9. So if you ſpeak not intelligibly to the Hearers, what the better are they? You do but ſpeak into the air.
10. There are, it may be, ſo many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without ſignification.
10. Even the Voices of Birds and Beaſts have their uſeful ſignificancy to Man, and to one another: much more of Men.
11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I ſhall be unto him that ſpeaketh, a barbarian; and he that ſpeaketh ſhall be a barbarian unto me.
11. Therefore what I underſtand not, is of no mor uſe to me, than to a Barbarian of another Language.
12. Even ſo ye, for as much as ye are zealous of ſpiritual gifts, ſeek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
12. Therefore as you much deſire Spiritual Gifts, prefer thoſe that moſt edifie, and ſeek them not for vain glory.
13. Wherefore let him that ſpeaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret.
13. Let him that hath the Gifts of Languages, pray for the Gift of edifying Interpretation.
14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my ſpirit prayeth, but my underſtanding is unfruitful.
14. If I pray in an unknown Tongue, my Spirit prayeth, but others underſtand me not, and cannot profitably join with me.
15. What is it then? I will pray with the ſpirit, and I will pray with the underſtanding alſo: I will ſing with the ſpirit, and I will ſing with the underſtanding alſo.
15. Therefore when I pray or ſing by the Gift of unknown Tongues, I will alſo pray and ſing intelligibly, for edification.
16. Elſe when thou ſhalt bleſs with the ſpirit, how ſholl he that occupieth the room, of the unlearned, ſay Amen at thy giving of thanks, ſeeing he underſtandeth not what thou ſayeſt.
16. If others join not with thee, it is but a private Exerciſe, and not a Church-exerciſe: And how ſhall the Vulgar join by conſent, and ſay, Amen, to what they do not underſtand?
17. For thou verily giveſt thanks well, but the other is not edified.
17. Thy Thankſgiving is a good Work; but what is another or the Church the wiſer for it?
18. I thank my God, I ſpeak with tongues more than you all:
18. I thank God he hath given the Gift of more Languages to me, than to any of you.
19. Yet in the church I had rather ſpeak five words with my underſtanding, that by my voice I might teach others alſo, then ten thouſand words in an unknown tongue.
19. Yet in the Worſhipping Aſſembly, (which is the Church) I prefer a few intelligible Words which may teach others, before all that can be ſaid for oſtentation, and are unintelligible.
20. Brethren be not children in underſtanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in underſtanding be men.
20. Be not like Children, that l…ve unedifying Gingles; but imitate them in harmleſneſs: but as Men, value and uſe that which increaſeth Wiſdom and Underſtanding.
21. In the law it is writen, With men of other tongues and other lips, will I ſpeak unto this people: and yet for all that will they not hear me, ſaith the Lord.
21. It is ſpoken in Iſaiah 14.11. by God, That with Men of, &c. to ſhew their hardheartedneſs, that would neither hear their own Prophets, nor Strangers ſent to them by the Providence of God.
22. Wherefore tongues are for a ſign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but propheſying ſerveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
22. So that the miraculous Gift of Languages is to convince Unbelievers, of that which the Church believeth already: But Prophetical opening the Doctrine of Chriſt, for further edification, is appointed for them that are already Believers.
23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all ſpeak with tongues, and there come in thoſe that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not ſay that ye are mad?
23. Surely you ſhould not meet or worſhip God ſcandalouſly, like mad Men: But if the whole Church do meet in one place, (as Churches then did) and all ſpeak in unknown Tongues, the Unlearned and Unbelievers will take you all for mad Phanaticks.
24. But if all propheſie, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
24. But if all that ſpeak do by Gods Spirit uſe convincing Evidence in Explication and Application, they all convince him, and ſhew him his Condition.
25. And thus are the ſecrets of his heart made manifeſt; and ſo falling down on his face, he will worſhip God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
25. And this ſearching convincing Light will make them join with you in the reverent Worſhip of God, and make them report that God is in your Church, a a holy Aſſembly.
26. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a pſalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying.
26. Therefore let all your G…fts, whether of Pſalmody, or Doctrine, or Languages, or Revelation, or Interpretation, be uſed to Edification, which is the true End of Church-Aſſemblies: And the End is your Directory, in the uſe of all undetermined Accidents of the Means.
27. If any man ſpeak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the moſt by three, and that by courſe; and let one interpret.
27. If you will uſe your Guift of Languages, let it be done by no more than two or three, one after another; and let ſome interpret it to the Unlearned in the Church.
28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep ſilence in the church; and let him ſpeak to himſelf, and to God.
28. That which only God and your ſelves underſtand, let none but God and your ſelves hear; and ſpeak not that in the Church which they cannot underſtand.
29. Let the prophets ſpeak two or three, and let the other judge.
29. And the Prophets alſo muſt do all to Edification, and therefore muſt ſpeak no more than may ediſie the Church, which is but two or three at an Aſſembly, the reſt judging.
30. If any thing be revealed to another that ſitteth by, let the firſt hold his peace,
30. If God immediately inſpire another then to ſpeak, let the firſt give way to him by ſilence.
31. For ye may all propheſie one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
31. For all that are Prophets, or are then prophetically inſpired, may propheſie in order, that all in the Church may learn, and be exhorted, and comforted.
32. And the ſpirits of the prophets are ſubject to the prophets.
32. And whereas Men may pretend to be inſpired of God, and that to ſpeak juſt at that time, when it is not ſo (as their own Underſtanding muſt judge of the edifying Seaſon and Order, ſo) the Prophets that are Hearers, having the Spirit of God, are fit Judges whether it be that Spirit, or a Deluſion and Paſſion of their own, that Order may be kept in the Aſſemblies, at leaſt as to the time.
33. For God is not the author of confuſion, but of peace, as in all churches of the ſaints.
33. For pretended Inſpirations and Mandates are not to be believed againſt Gods common Law to all the Churches, which have a ſurer notification than a ſingle Man can give us: B…t Gods common Law is againſt Confuſion, and for Peace and Order; and therefore it is certain, that Confuſion is not of Divine Inſpiration.
34. Let your women keep ſilence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to ſpeak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as alſo ſaith the law.
34. And it is one of the Rules of Order, That Women be no Publick Teachers or Speakers in the Church: God permitteth it not, who hath commanded them Subjection by the Law.
35. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their Husbands at home, for it is a ſhame for women to ſpeak in the church.
35. Not but that they ſhould learn; but it muſt be with modeſty, asking their Husbands, if they have ſuch as are able to teach them (as they ought; elſe they have other private Helps.) It's a ſhame to the Church and her, for a Woman there to ſpeak (except in common ſinging Pſalms, or other Common Acts.)
36. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
36. I ask them that contradict this; Did Gods Word come out from you, or from intruſted Apoſtles? Or did it come to you only, that you contradict the Churches?
37. If any man think himſelf to be a prophet, or ſpiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you, are the commandments of the Lord. 38. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
37, 38. If any be indeed a Prophet, or Inſpired, and not pretendedly only, he will confeſs, that theſe Canons or Deciſions are Gods own Commandments, and not my Device. But if Men will be obſtinate in their Ignorance, let them look to it.
39. Wherefore, brethren, covet to propheſie, and forbid not to ſpeak with tongues.
39. Prophecy for the Churches Edifying is to be coveted, and Languages there not forbidden.
40. Let all things be done decently, and in order.
40. That Sacred things be all done decently, and not with uncomely negligence, and orderly, and not in confuſion, or as every Mans Fancy leads him, this is a General Law of God, according to which undetermined Modes and Circumſtances muſt be regulated and done.
ANNOTATIONS.
I. IT's a Doubt oft put, How it could be that Gods Spirit ſhould inſpire Men with Tongues or Prophecy, and yet not tell them when and how to uſe them? But it's not to be thought, that he that was before without the Habit, had the actual Uſe of them, then ſuddenly inſpired; but that, as the Learned, ſo the Inſpired had the habitual Knowledge of Tongues before they aſſembled, and ſo for the actual Uſe and Time, were to exerciſe their own Diſcretion.
II. The Deſcription of the Church here, oft named as meeting in one Place with their Officers and Guides, tells us, that then a Church of this Rank was not a Dioceſs of many hundred Aſſemblies, which had all but one Biſhop, their Conſtitutive Head; but that it was a Company aſſociated for Perſonal Communion, that uſually met in one Place; though Neceſſity might make them meet in many, and tho ſome General Guides might take care of many ſuch Churches.
III. The greater number of Prophets, and Teachers, &c. that were here in one Aſſembly, whoſe Exerciſes the Apoſtle was put to reſtrain, doth fully confute Dr. Hammond's oft-repeated Opinion, That in Scripture-times there is no Proof that there were any more Presbyters to one Church, than one, who was a Biſhop, and had Deacons under him; and that for want of capable Perſons. But his Opinion inferreth, That then a Church was no greater than could meet in one Place: For one Biſhop could not be at once in many. And if no Subject-Presbyters were made in Scripture-times, it muſt be proved by what juſt Power they were after made, even a ſort of Paſtors never made by the Apoſtles
IV. The Arguments of the Apoſtle againſt the uninterrupted Uſe of Tongues not underſtood in the Church, are ſo many, cogent, plain, and vehement, that I will not loſe time to anſwer the Papiſts Cavils againſt them, when they defend their Latin Maſſes and Prayers; but only note, That nothing can be ſo plainly ſpoken by Gods own Spirit, which Carnal prejudiced Men cannot pervert; and that it is no wonder if they will not be judged and ruled by Gods Word, unleſs they themſelves may be Judges of the Senſe of it; and how little Gods Word ſignifieth to the People, where it muſt have ſuch Expoſitors and Judges.
One that knew no more againſt the Papal Kingdom, called the Church of Rome, than, 1. Their Latin Service, and cheriſhing of Ignorance: 2. And that as Leeches they live on Blood, and keep up their Religion by violent Cruelty; if he have but read this 1 Cor. 14. and Chriſts Commands for loving each other; yea, if he have not loſt much of Humanity it ſelf, I think, can hardly be a Papiſt.
V. The Pretence that ſome fetch hence, for any Man that will to ſpeak in the Church, if he think he is inſpired, is utterly vain: For that leave is here reſtrained to Inſpired Prophets, and thoſe to be regulated by the Laws of Order, Decency, and Edification. And God hath made it the Office of the Paſtors, to be Rulers in the Aſſemblies.
VI. The abuſe of the General Rules by Papiſt Uſurping Church-Lords and Canoniſts, is notorious; who, becauſe Gods own Ordinances muſt, as to Modes and Circumſtances, be managed Decently, Orderly, and to Edification, thence plead for a Dominion to add many Symbolical Rites and Ordinances of their own, which Peter and Paul never knew, to make Gods Ordinances ſeem Decent, Orderly, and to Edification, even things that in ſpecie & genere are needleſs at the beſt; and then they ſilence, excommunicate, and ruine all that refuſe ſuch corrupting inventions: Like Zedekiah Ahabs Prophets, who (with his Brethren) ſpake by a Lying Spirt; and then made it Decent, Orderly and Edifying, by wearing a pair of Horns, to tell Ahab how he ſhould puſh down his Enemies, and then ſmote Michaiah, for pretending to have more of the Spirit and Truth than he had; that Michaiah might be ſed in Priſon with the Bread and Water of affliction, t…ll experience ſhewed who had the Truth: How theſe Men would have uſed the Apoſtles of Chriſt if they now lived, and worſhipped God but as then they did, their Canons teach us to conjecture.